A Review of Q3 2016 in OTT

It’s been a busy third quarter in 2016 in the over-the-top (OTT) space, with several developments occurring in regards to a select group of businesses. Did you miss what happened in Q1 and Q2?

Check out here and here for additional information.

Hulu

At the beginning of August, Time Warner Inc. purchased a 10% stake in Hulu, providing the streaming service with a value of $5.8 billion. After that moment, activity quickly ramped up.

Five days later, Hulu revealed that it would no longer be offering its free TV product.

"For the past couple years, we've been focused on building a subscription service that provides the deepest, most personalized content experience possible to our viewers," said Ben Smith, Hulu senior VP and head of experience. "As we have continued to enhance that offering with new originals, exclusive acquisitions and movies, the free service became very limited and no longer aligned with the Hulu experience or content strategy."

The exact same day as that announcement, Yahoo launched a TV website, Yahoo View, in collaboration with Hulu. It provides free television content, including the most recent five episodes of ABC, NBC and FOX shows.

“Yahoo View is our first step towards creating a powerful community TV-watching experience, but it’s really only the beginning,” said Jess Lee, VP Lifestyles Product at Yahoo.

In September, Variety reported that Hulu is developing two virtual reality-only TV series.

Snapchat

In August, the NFL began hosting a sports channel on Snapchat Discover.

“We’re excited to expand our partnership with Snapchat, delivering compelling NFL content to a platform where millions of our fans around the world interact on a daily basis,” said Blake Stuchin, Director, Digital Media Business Development for the National Football League, in a press release. “The launch of the NFL on Discover will provide a key touch point to follow storylines throughout the week, and the expansion of Live Stories will provide fans with a unique perspective of the excitement in and around our stadiums at every game all season-long.”

NBC provided content and coverage via Snapchat during the Olympics, and in the first week received approximately 50 million viewers.

The peacock network also partnered with Snapchat in a multi-year deal for content and advertising, which will result in Snapchat Discover TV shows.

“By partnering with Snapchat, we can combine the largest, most creative portfolio in television with a technology platform that’s evolving and complementing how we engage with audiences,” said Linda Yaccarino, Chairman, Advertising Sales and Client Partnerships, NBCUniversal. “For our advertisers, this means being associated with premium content in a new and compelling format, and creating a connection that lasts long after your snap disappears.”

Other Companies

In other Q3 news, Twitter and news startup Cheddar joined together to develop streaming news and business shows for millennials.

And YouTube set a live-streaming political record with the first presidential debate, attracting 2 million concurrent viewers.

Time Inc. launched the online People/Entertainment Weekly Network (PEN) in September.

“I think 15 years ago, People and SI and InStyle should have launched cable channels, because that’s when the land grab was,” said Jess Cagle, editorial director of People and Entertainment Weekly. “Now is not the time to launch a cable channel.”

Looking Ahead

Several businesses have made revelations about the OTT services that they’re currently working on.

On October 18, Vimeo will be debuting its Global Television Store in partnership with Lionsgate, which has licensed many of its shows.

“We’re proud to launch Vimeo’s first ever transaction-based global television store with Lionsgate’s acclaimed television series,” Barry Diller said, chairman and senior executive of Vimeo parent company IAC. “Their television slate includes nearly 80 series on 40 different networks, and they are a great partner with whom to kick off a service that will bring premium scripted shows from the U.S. to our hundreds of millions of viewers around the world. They are the first of many top Hollywood studios we expect to attract in the months to come.”

By the end of the year, AT&T is expected to launch its DirecTV Now service, and a few details have come known: it will feature 100+ channels, and multi-device streaming.

“This is exclusively an over-the-top product,” AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said. “This is no set-top box; this is no truck roll; this is a customer pulling down an app, getting a very robust platform.”

Sometime in early 2017, CenturyLink has a 17-channel OTT service prepared for consumers.

And by 2018, Discovery Communication hopes to offer the “Netflix for sports.” The cable company plans to utilize Eurosport, a popular European network.

“We own it all and when we go to the player and charge $8 per subscriber we’re in a whole different game,” said David Zaslav, Discovery CEO. “For us, Eurosport direct-to-consumer fills the full circle of where the world is going.”

That covers it for Q3! Stay tuned for the Q4 roundup at the beginning of 2017.

Author: Brian Cameron

Image via Shutterstock.

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TV Leaders Share Thoughts During Summer 2016 TCA Tour

As the fall season of television approaches, executives and contributors are embarking on the Television Critics Association (TCA) summer press tour to promote new shows and discuss the state of the industry, providing remarks on broadcast and OTT.

Here’s a look at what many of them have been saying.

NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt championed broadcast TV, observing that the peacock network has “defied a lot of the doom-and-gloom, downward trends we've been hearing about network television."

However at the same time, Greenblatt emphasized an expansion of NBC’s streaming plans, and suggested that it was dabbling with a few concepts.

"We’re in a unique position because our sister company is a cable company and the OTT strategy is a competitive take from what the cable business is," said Greenblatt. "Whatever we do in that space, we want to do something that is not an affront to the cable business or distributors. So we’re trying to craft something that is a good thing for them as well. So we’re not there yet, but hopefully in the very near future we’ll have something to talk about. In the meantime, we’re doing a lot of toe in the water approaches.”

“Anywhere from 30 to 60 percent of viewing is done off the linear network,” Greenblatt later told Broadcasting & Cable.

The revelation of streaming TV series is the realization that people always watch them in order, says "Bojack Horseman" creator. #TCA16

— Roger Catlin (@rcatlin) July 27, 2016

Fox Television Group chief Dana Walden also lauded network television.

“Our shows become part of the national conversation, they are hitting a nerve. You can’t have that elsewhere, particularly on OTT,” stated Walden.

Walden recognized that the broadcast TV space has been particularly competitive in recent years.

It “has not been the flavor of the month, and for good reason,” Walden said, considering the rise of “shiny new services that wowed you and cable networks that won your attention with fantastic shows that would never have survived on broadcast.”

Streaming whole seasons of shows means you can go back and tweak early episodes later, say Mitch Hurwitz and Raphael Bob-Waksberg. #TCA16

— Roger Catlin (@rcatlin) July 27, 2016

Writer and executive producer David E. Kelley, known for numerous network dramas, made waves by moving over to Amazon and stating he wouldn’t return to broadcast.

With Amazon television shows, "you're trusting that your audience is going to sit down and maybe watch the whole series in a week. You don’t have to remind them what they saw an hour and a half ago. You can be more efficient in your storytelling and you can just go deeper,” Kelley said.

“We have some pretty deep and dark character arcs within [upcoming show “Goliath”] that really require a lot of patience with the audience, patience that I'm not sure a broadcast regime is going to give you,” Kelley added.

YouTube original content head Susanne Daniels, who previously worked as a programming executive at MTV, touted streaming too.

“We reach over a billion people every single month, including more 18-to-49-year-olds on mobile alone than any broadcast or cable network I’ve ever worked for. This platform has more power to reach an audience and be more influential than traditional television,” Daniels said.

Read it and weep (if you cover TV). The state of #PeakTV from FX’s research dept. #TCA16 pic.twitter.com/FsmgUAeuBZ

— Jason Lynch (@jasonlynch) August 9, 2016

FX Networks CEO John Landgraf revealed research demonstrating a major increase in OTT distribution, and projected the creation and release of approximately 500 original shows across broadcast, premium, basic cable and streaming for 2016.

"This is simply too much television. My sense is that 2015 or 2016 will represent peak TV in America, and that we’ll begin to see declines coming the year after that and beyond,” said Landgraf.

When it comes to broadcast and OTT, this season's TCA seems to indicate that the battle for viewers has never been more intense.

Author: Brian Cameron

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Experiencing the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics with Streaming Technology

This Friday, August 5, the Opening Ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro will occur, and the Games will be ongoing until the evening of August 21.

There are many ways to view and engage with the various competitions, as audiences will be utilizing more than just their televisions to tune in.

A study released today by Phunware found that 77% of consumers say they’re likely to access this year’s Olympic events and content on a mobile device.

“Today’s consumers want more control over their media experiences. They expect access to the content and information they want, when they want it, and traditional television and even web viewing just doesn’t align with those expectations,” said Alan S. Knitowski, Chairman and CEO of Phunware, in a press release. “Mobile gives them that level of customization and on-demand accessibility, so it’s no surprise that we’re seeing consumers turn off the TV and turn to mobile to stay connected, especially when it comes to some of the biggest media events of the year like the Summer Olympics.”

NBCUniversal is the official network for the Olympics in the U.S., and it plans to air approximately 6,755 hours of sports programming.

If you’re a pay-TV subscriber, the action can be viewed on the NBC Sports Live Extra App, which itself will stream 4,500 hours of content.

U.S. military members will be able to stream the Olympics for free by selecting the “Exchange” as their provider.

“With 4,500 hours of streaming—1,000 more than London—including nine TV networks and connected TVs for the first time, we certainly anticipate record-setting consumption for Rio,” said Rick Cordella, SVP and General Manager of Digital Media at NBC Sports Group.

NBC is also launching a new app: NBC Olympics: Rio News & Results, which will feature medal tables, video clips, athlete biographies and more.

Microsoft Azure is assisting NBC with the live streaming aspect.

“We always strive to deliver more content in real time to more channels and devices around the world,” said Scott Guthrie, executive vice president of the Cloud and Enterprise Group at Microsoft. “During the Sochi Olympic Games, NBC Olympics had more than 1 million concurrent live viewers watching a collective average of 600,000 hours of coverage per day. We are planning for even greater viewing numbers for Rio, and are excited to power the experience again using Microsoft Azure.”

For the first time ever, NBC will make virtual reality a part of the Olympics via the Samsung Gear. Eighty-five hours of VR content will be available.

“The world’s greatest sporting event is always a showcase for cutting edge technology, and we’re thrilled to partner with Samsung and OBS to bring our viewers even closer to compelling Olympic action with virtual reality,” said Gary Zenkel, president, NBC Olympics. “Olympic fans can be transported to iconic venues such as Maracana Stadium for an unprecedented view of the Opening Ceremony, and Copacabana Beach for an immersive beach volleyball experience in the sport’s ultimate setting.”

In Canada, CBC/Radio-Canada is handling the streaming coverage with its CBC Rio 2016 app for iOS and Android.

According to the CBC website, “there will be up to 23 online channels with over 4,000 live streaming hours.”

And in the UK, the BBC will be offering comprehensive access to the Games, with more than 3,000 hours of sports.

“The BBC’s coverage of London 2012 was the most watched TV event in UK broadcasting history and we are committed to bringing the same high quality, in-depth coverage to Rio 2016. The incredible offering across all our platforms will deliver every moment of the Games through a truly interactive, personalised experience, while at the same time fully immersing audiences in this iconic sporting event just as we were so proud to do four years ago,” said Barbara Slater, Director of BBC Sport.

 As is the case every four years, champions will rise, and records will fall. We can’t wait to see the medal count in the end.

Author: Brian Cameron
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From OTT "Siege” into full-out “Invasion”

Last week, Moody’s released a new report that pay-tv businesses and networks will likely find intriguing. Titled "Pay TV and Television Networks -- US: OTT Invasion: Grand Bargain Required forLong-Term Sector and Credit Stability,” the findings indicate that over-the-top services appear to be the model for TV that is showing the most growth.

“If the masters of big media and distribution were placed in a room and asked to start from scratch, to create a TV business model using the latest technology and providing a product most appealing to consumers and most efficient for advertisers, it would look a lot more like Netflix and Facebook, respectively, than today’s television ecosystem,” said Moody’s senior vice president and analyst Neil Begley. “So, the best option is for the largest companies in content production, aggregation (networks) and distribution (pay-TV providers) to come together and agree on new contractual constructs supporting a new platform supported by the latest available technology that will underlie video distribution and the advertising that subsidizes its cost.”

The report also suggested that television companies should “end the linear distribution model.”

It’s a bit of a shift from a Moody’s report published in April last year, “High Yield Cable's Broadband Still Effective Defense Against Over-the-Top Siege.”

At this time, it was recommended that investors should “stick with cable despite [the] OTT rush.” Seemingly, in a little over a year, the winds have changed.

The results are also in line with Nielsen’s newly released Total Audience Report for Q1 2016, which revealed that SVOD/OTT options and DVRs are now available in 50% of U.S. TV households.

The OTT “invasion” sounds quite permanent. That would make it an occupying force – one that is not likely to be expelled.

Author: Brian Cameron

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OTT in Q2 2016

It’s once again time for our quarterly roundup of the major happenings in the OTT space. Below, find a monthly breakdown of what’s been occurring.

April

In April, cable network Starz launched its $8.99/month standalone streaming service.

“This is the direction technology is taking us, and we’re looking to explore that,” said Starz CEO Chris Albrecht in an interview with CNBC.

Commenting on the overall industry, Albrech stated “I do think that people will be able to, probably, create their own array of television or entertainment choices. Whether they, you know, buy them individual apps or they’re companies that deliver apps, that can be a sort of virtual MPVD service, this certainly is the way of the future.”

Seeking to take on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video became a monthly service, also with a $8.99/month cost.

“Because we have this unusual way to monetize the premium content, we can charge less for the premium content than we would otherwise have to charge, if we didn't have the flywheel spinning to help sell more shoes,” Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said.

May

In May, CBS’ experimentation with streaming news updates was declared “the future of CBS News” by executive vice president Marc Debevoise.

It was also revealed that YouTube is planning an online TV service for 2017 – “Unplugged” – which would seemingly compete with skinny bundles and SVODs like Dish and PS Vue.

June

Harkening back to April, Lionsgate announced in June that it will be acquiring Starz in a $4.4 billion deal.

“Chris Albrecht and his team have built a world-class platform and programming leader, and we’re proud to marshal our resources in a deal that accelerates our growth and diversification, generates exciting new strategic content opportunities and creates significant value for our shareholders,” said Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer.

It will be intriguing to see if/how the movie studio utilizes Starz streaming technology to distribute original film and television content.

Author: Brian Cameron

Image via Shutterstock.

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TV Summits Reveal Pressures of OTT Biz

Two weeks ago, two major television-themed events offered intriguing insights as to the experiences Over-the-Top (OTT) executives, participants and industry leaders are having.

At the June 14 “Tune In: The TV Summit 2016,” hosted by Variety at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles, actress Mindy Kaling (star of “The Mindy Project”) provided thoughts on binge-viewing and working with OTT company Hulu.

During a discussion with reporter Elizabeth Wagmeister, Kaling described the feeling of serenity that arrives when one is no longer concerned with the TV ratings system.

“I don’t know what the ratings are. They tell me we’re doing great and that’s it,” Kaling told Wagmeister. “I think that’s great. I don’t need the Wednesday morning panicky feeling. The ratings from the [night before] govern your entire morning. I’m so happy not to be part of that anymore.”

"I like it!" @mindykaling says of not having to worry about ratings at @hulu. Can worry about other things instead. #TVSummit

— Michael Schneider (@franklinavenue) June 14, 2016

Kaling also said she enjoys Hulu’s one-episode-a-week release schedule, stating that she “[doesn’t] want to bury our episodes.”

Others talked about the evolution of TV, with one attendee gleaning that “TV screens are now digital devices … 70% of Hulu is seen on a big screen.”

The following day, the Next TV Summit & Expo was held almost 400 miles north at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco.

Roku CMO Matthew Anderson said the industry was “in the midst of a TV renaissance.”

Hulu also had a presence at this gathering, where many OTT platform operators discussed user acquisition and preservation.

“The first 90 seconds is critical,” said Ben Smith, Hulu senior vice president and head of experience, adding that if a viewer cannot locate content to watch, they are “more likely to churn … If they don’t find value, they won’t pay.”

“If you don’t hook them the first time, you may never,” chimed in Christopher Ruddy, CEO of Newsmax Media. “Attracting [viewers] is easy. Retaining them isn’t as simple.”

Intensity certainly appears to be a key theme for companies in the OTT space – as well as the need for viewers to efficiently navigate an interface to locate TV and entertainment content.


Author: Brian Cameron

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What’s New at the 2016 Digital NewFronts

In New York City, the 2016 DigitalNewFronts presentation has been ongoing since May 2. Creators of online content like BuzzFeed, YouTube, Hulu, VICE and others have been revealing their plans for the upcoming year.

Here’s a look at some of the biggest announcements so far.

National Geographic

Making quite the splash, National Geographic told attendees that it would developing 10 short-form video digital series, a VR platform (“NG VR Studio”), and an Instagram video series.

The company is the largest media firm on Instagram, with over 49 million followers.

"We get super-excited by the potential of social and the ability it gives us to connect with consumers and bring them along for the journey," said Claudia Malley, chief marketing and brand officer for National Geographic Partners (NGP). "You'll travel the world with our photographers and have an intimate experience with them [in the series].”

NatGeo also stressed their decades of experience.

“What makes National Geographic stand out in a crowded digital media space? World-class storytelling backed by 128 years of science and exploration — and a strong sense of purpose,” declared Declan Moore, CEO of NGP.

Short Film by @JohnStanmeyer Behind the Scenes of the @outofedenwalk for @NatGeo ~ Paul Salopek taking questions during our Facebook Live broadcast yesterday, walking along the coast of the Caspian Sea in Kazakhstan with his horse, Alex Moen, while photographer/social media specialist @anushbabajanyan works the broadcast...and I walk backwards photographing the story for the magazine, trying not to trip. To view the entire 25 minute Facebook Live episode, visit "National Geographic Magazine" on Facebook. Also, be sure to follow me on #Snapchat @stanmeyer for behind the scenes of the making of this story for Nat Geo. Additionally, we have taken over National Geographic's Snapchat feed (@natgeo) all weekend long. Follow both feeds for a deeply layered social media experience of how National Geographic stories are created. All my best, @JohnStanmeyer @natgeocreative @thephotosociety @outofedenwalk #kazakhstan #caspian #caspiansea #horse #stanmeyeronassignment #paulsalopek #FacebookLive

A video posted by National Geographic (@natgeo) on May 8, 2016 at 10:13am PDT

BuzzFeed

Internet media company BuzzFeed trotted out news that it has been receiving 7 billion views a month on its content.

Referencing its widely-shared watermelon video, the executives emphasized that they were available for sponsors to jump on board and form strategic partnerships.

“[The watermelon video viewership] is really exciting to me, because it's the first time we've had a number that's comparable to TV," said BuzzFeed CEO Jonah Peretti.

Additionally, the company provided a slate of scripted and unscripted programming.

77% of @BuzzFeed is not on BuzzFeed. The new reality. #newfronts pic.twitter.com/Vze0VQj3qt

— Ben Winkler (@bwinkl3r) May 2, 2016

Time Inc.

Time has unveiled a free, ad-supported OTT service: the People/Entertainment Weekly Network.

The streaming platform will offer series, specials and live-events from a pop culture/celebrity point-of-view, and it will launch later this autumn.

“These programming and technology initiatives underscore Time Inc.’s strategy to create premium video content in all formats to be distributed across traditional channels as well as new platforms that are redefining media consumption,” said an official statement from Time.

Time also revealed a VR product.

“For our People and Entertainment Weekly brands, which are showing strong momentum in video, we think there’s a unique opportunity to go direct-to-consumer with a lean-back, long-form viewing experience,” added Rich Battista, president of the Time Inc. Entertainment and Sports Group and Video.

We are extending our iconic @LIFE brand into the world of virtual reality with the launch of the LIFE VR app @iab #NewFronts #TimeIncVideo

— Time Inc. (@TimeInc) May 5, 2016

Hulu & YouTube

Hulu announced a cable-inspired streaming service, set to debut in 2017. However, not to be outdone, YouTube also announced a paid SVOD service, which will feature cable channels as well.

Time Warner Cable, somewhat of an interloper at the NewFronts, vociferously challenged YouTube and other OTT services.

"The choice today is not a matter of TV versus digital. Cable TV is digital," said Fred Bucher, head marketer at Time Warner Cable Media.

"The future of television is no longer on television," @mindykaling tells @hulu #NewFronts. "It's on the Internet." pic.twitter.com/T1JqZtJmff

— Randall Rothenberg (@r2rothenberg) May 4, 2016

The traditional TV Upfronts will be occurring later this month, and it will be intriguing to see how the broadcasters respond to these digital efforts and compete to keep viewers.

Author: Brian Cameron

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Hulu Hopes OTT Originals Prove its Power

The past few days have been busy ones for OTT service Hulu. Slowly but surely, it has been making its mark in the world of online television, with streams increasing 79% in the last year.

At the beginning of the week, news leaked that the company was developing a streaming TV service that would offer “live programming from broadcast and cable brands” next year.

This was followed up by an announcement at its 2016 Digital NewFronts presentation that “The Mindy Project” was being renewed for a fifth season, almost a year after picking up the show from FOX for a fourth season.

Hulu was been making a strong emphasis on its premium content offerings lately, which began a few months ago with the James Franco-helmed “11.22.63,” an event series adapted from a Stephen King novel, which was inspired by the JFK assassination.

“We don’t want to convince you what good TV is,” said Ben Smith, Hulu head of experience, “or what edgy is. You love it? We love it.”

Hulu hired a new Head of Originals, Beatrice Springborn, to develop the right programming to attract viewers.

Additionally, by releasing episodes one at a time, a different experience is available compared to one large binge.

“We’ve created a sense of anticipation from week to week,” said Springborn. “You’re building anticipation, and people are questioning what’s going to happen next week.”

Bridget Carpenter, who was the showrunner for “11.22.63,” described a feeling of liberty when working with the Netflix and Amazon competitor.

“I had a lot of freedom given to me by Bad Robot and Warner Bros and Hulu,” Carpenter told the LA Times. “They all said, take as much time as you need. However long it needs to be—it can be 12 hours, it can be whatever you want.”



An anonymous Hulu executive pointed out that most Hulu viewers are watching on their physical television sets as opposed to second screen devices – “We’ve put the TV back in the TV” – but as one of the few OTT businesses that run ads, can it last when so many audiences are used to no commercials?

Later this year, Hulu is expected to roll out more original content, including documentaries, as well as two more of those dramas, “Shut Eye,” about a psychic, and “Chance” a Hugh Laurie series revolving around a forensic neuropsychiatrist.

Author: Brian Cameron

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Networks Adopt Binge-Streaming Strategies

In May 2015, NBC’s “Aquarius,” a drama that portrays a detective investigating Charles Manson, became the first broadcast series to be available for streaming upon the airing of its premiere.

"We are fully aware how audiences want to consume multiple episodes of new television series faster and at their own discretion, and we're excited to offer our viewers this same experience since all 13 episodes of this unique show have been produced and are ready to be seen,” NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt told Adweek at the time.

The show, helmed by David Duchovny, was quickly renewed for a second season within a month.

“With its riveting drama and innovative release strategy, Aquarius has excited the critics, hooked millions of viewers and energized our summer. It’s no secret that the way people watch television is evolving, so we took a unique approach to how we delivered Aquarius and it’s driven some record numbers for NBC Digital and helped us reach viewers who might have otherwise overlooked a great summer drama,” said Jennifer Salke, NBC entertainment president.

Now, other networks are following NBC’s lead and experimenting with streaming strategies of their own.

On April 10, premium cable channels Showtime and Starz released entire series via OTT while simultaneously premiering them on linear TV.

Showtime has created a new comedy, "Dice," about a struggling comedian in Las Vegas.

“We’re excited to release ‘Dice’ in its entirety across our streaming, on demand and authenticated viewing platforms,” said Gary Levine, Showtime president of programming. “We’re always looking for new ways to make our programming stand-out, and we’re confident that a ‘Dice binge’ will appeal to both fans and skeptics alike, and help spread the word about his very funny new Showtime series.”

“Once you subscribe to Showtime, we’re happy to share our programming with you; that’s the beginning, middle and end,” Levine added. “Exactly what the timing is — exactly what device you watch it on — is practically irrelevant to us.”



Starz’s “The Girlfriend Experience,” which explores the world of call girls, is inspired by producer Steven Soderbergh’s film of the same name.

“Providing binging access to the entire 13-episodes to STARZ subscribers, along with the traditional weekly episodic premiere schedule, allows us to accommodate all viewing appetites,” Starz CEO Chris Albrecht said in a press release.

Referring to the 30-minute length of the episodes, Soderbergh stated that “chunks of narrative this size encourage the ‘I-want-to-watch-one-more’ sensation.”

Network executives recently discussed the approach to this binge blueprint.

"The streaming platforms have created a more competitive environment and we all need to deliver better," said David Levy, president of Turner.

"Bingers are super fans," Jonnie Davis, president of creative affairs for 20th Century Fox TV, chimed in. "These are the people who go to work the next day and want to talk about the show."

With major premium and broadcast networks attempting this TV show development model, could even more join in?

Author: Brian Cameron

Image via Shutterstock.

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The Most Prevalent TV Issues at MIPTV 2016

In Cannes, France, MIPTV has been ongoing from April 4 – 7.

Approximately 11,000 people gathered to learn about the latest and greatest developments in television technology and content.

Seemingly, the industry is on the cusp of advancing in several different directions.

“VR as the Next Frontier”

Virtual reality is perhaps one of the most popular topics surrounding television at present. Over the course of the past year, VR has ruled Kickstarter, dominated Sundance, been a part of the 2016 election cycle and entered into programming.

It’s no surprise that a ‘lengthy and exciting' session at MIPTV attracted attention. French telco Orange discussed launching VR content on its pay-TV channel OCS.

“We decided to make VR a significant innovation priority for us,” said Guillaume Lacroix, senior vice president of TV and video partnerships and services at Orange. “This is a real new media, and we have to learn how to use it. This first experience allows us to understand what it takes to make a great experience.”

In the clip below, Morgan Bouchet, Orange’s vice president of digital content and innovation, and head of VR, demonstrates watching hit HBO series “Vinyl” in virtual reality.

Video: @orange's @morganbouchet watches @HBO's Vinyl in VR via @OCSTV menu #MIPTV pic.twitter.com/yWEVrkKc1p

— MIP Markets (@mip) April 6, 2016

Live Streaming: the “new must-watch destination for television”

A panel focused on television and digital content described live streaming as the “fastes[t] growing area of digital”.

“It’s FOMO, fear of missing out,” Will Keenan, president of Stream Up, told attendees. “I find it interesting that at the same time reality TV viewership was going down … viewership of online video bloggers, who in my mind became the new reality stars, was going way up. What was it about the online video bloggers? It was that genuineness, that authenticity.”

“TV is hermetically sealed … What’s interesting about YouTubers, people on Periscope and other platforms, they are aware of the frame,” added Dan Biddle, Director of Broadcast Partnerships at Twitter UK.

.@WillKeenan of @Streamup on the live-streaming space: "The viewer is the new studio boss and the crowd is always right.” #MIPTV

— MIP Markets (@mip) April 4, 2016

eSports: “The Next Big Content Play?”

A session on the popularity of observing others play electronic games revealed just how much time is being spent in regards to content consumption: approximately 80 million hours in one month.

“We’re going to hit $1B [in global revenues] sooner than we realise,” said Peter Warman, co-founder of Newzoo. “There’s no escaping that the interactive media space is heading [this] way at an enormous speed.”

James Glasscock, senior vice president of business development at Machina, talked about the ever-increasing viewer numbers.

“300 million fans of eSports is starting to rival major leagues like the NFL and NBA in the United States,” he said.

“[eSports] are better than football, there’s constant action, no stops for penalties or injuries … and you don’t have to abide by the laws of physics,” chimed in Laurence Jones, commercial director at Endemol Shine Group. “Broadcasters need to think about how they are going to tell the story, it’s a challenge… but it’s exciting.”

To learn more about MIPTV, check out perhaps the most exciting trailer for a conference ever below.

Videos of various speakers can be found here.

Author: Brian Cameron

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The Best TV Industry Jokes from April Fool’s Day 2016

This past Friday was April Fool’s Day, and the Internet went wild as usual with a number of whimsical pranks and gags, many of which were related to television, streaming and virtual reality.

Here's a look at how various archetypes of modern TV were satirized.

*Prysm, a display technology firm, unveiled a TV that comes from an aerosol can.

*The Data Coalition parodied Big Data and the Internet of Things with the ‘Things Coalition.’

*Netflix had actor John Stamos appear all over its OTT platform.

*Hulu revealed ‘HuluDatr’ – a service that would allow users to “find ‘The One’ without getting dressed up, leaving your couch or even talking.”

*YouTube developed ‘Snoopavision,’ a “fully immersive experience that lets you watch any video on YouTube in 360 degrees, with Snoop Dogg.”

Google showed off its newest product – ‘Google Cardboard Plastic,’ an “actual reality” device for consumers.



T-Mobile launched a product too – ‘Binge on Up!’ – a “revolutionary new hand-free device that lets you watch whatever you want and do whatever you want.”



The BBC latched onto the vintage craze and debuted ‘BBC Store Video,’ a service that would send viewers VHS tapes.



MyVoucherCodes, a deal-locator, unveiled “Voucher Reality” eyewear that causes bargains to hover over items when shopping.

Overall, quite a few TV technology spoofs made their way onto the web this year. What innovation will be mocked in 2017?

Author: Brian Cameron

Image via Shutterstock.

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OTT in Q1 2016

It’s hard to believe that we are already one quarter into the year 2016. There have been so many developments in the OTT world so far that it’s best just to break it down by month.

January

The year began with a bang: Netflix announced at CES that it would be arriving in 130 additional countries.

“Today’s launch is like having a baby,” said Netflix CEO Reed Hastings. “It’s a big deal, but the real work is the next 20 years.”

At the Television Critics Association winter press tour, Starz CEO Chris Albrecht unveiled that the cable network was developing a streaming app – a stunning reversal considering his remarks in July 2015. At that time, Albrecht stated he had yet to observe any “benefits” to such an approach.

February

At the beginning of February, NBCUniversal revealed ‘hayu,’ a SVOD service designed for reality shows, and meant for viewers in Ireland, the UK and Australia.

“NBCUniversal’s expertise as the foremost producer of reality programming - along with the obvious popularity of the genre - was the trigger for launching hayu,” said Kevin MacLellan, Chairman, NBCUniversal International, in a press release. “We know that reality content is a primary driver of social interaction and that fans of reality TV significantly over-index in online viewing. We set out to build a service that elegantly combines the best high-end reality shows with the most popular social media and digital news platforms. Uniquely, in hayu, fans can find it all in one place."

Later in the month, Mexican media firm Televisa announced streaming platform ‘Blim,’ geared toward Latin American audiences in an effort to compete with Netflix.

"Televisa is the biggest producer and distributor of Spanish-language content in the world," said Blim chief Carlos Sandoval, "and this is one more piece of the puzzle to reach viewers."

March

March started off with the big news that AT&T will be releasing an OTT TV service later in the year, marketed as a DirecTV product. The offering will feature three different tiers.

"We intend to offer customers a quality pay-TV experience, including top channels, sports and more, with increased value and flexibility of pure online streaming and no need for home installation,” said John Stankey, CEO of AT&T Entertainment Group.

Specific details, including channels and programmers, are still unknown at this time.

Playstation Vue, which launched in limited regions last summer, has expanded across the U.S. and experienced a price cut: it now starts at $30/month.

Lionsgate partnered up with Comic-Con International to develop the ‘Comic-Con’ OTT platform, and has signaled that May 7 will be its official debut.

The service will feature original content, as well as entertainment commentary.

“For nearly half a century, Comic-Con has served as the definitive common ground where the fans of genre entertainment come together to express their passion for comics and pop culture,” said Seth Laderman, EVP and general manager for Comic-Con HQ. “The new platform will provide a year-round destination to enjoy all facets of the community and access the vast diversity of content the world has come to expect from the largest and longest-running pop cultural celebration of the year.”

Lionsgate is also working with comedian Kevin Hart on a ‘Laugh Out Loud’ VOD service for exclusive content related to the man himself. It’s expected to hit screens this autumn.

Two other businesses also showed off new streaming models.

Redbox is once again entering the fray with ‘Redbox Digital.’ The Illinois-based movie rental company had made an attempt previously with “Redbox Instant,’ but that was shut down in October 2014.

Now it seems, they’ve re-thought the concept.

“Redbox continually looks for ways to enhance our customer experience,” a Redbox spokesperson told Variey. “For tens of millions of consumers, Redbox is their source for new release rentals without a subscription. As such, we regularly conduct tests of potential new offerings, that may or may not be brought to market, as part of our ongoing commitment to provide additional value.”

Finally, content network Fullscreen has come up with its own SVOD service, ‘fullscreen,’ meant to rival Netflix and YouTube at $5/month.

"We're very specifically going after the teen and young audience that grew up in the social and mobile-first environment," said Fullscreen CEO George Strompolos.

Fullscreen will be available for consumers on April 26.

It’s been busy so far for OTT in 2016, what will happen next?

Author: Brian Cameron

Image via Shutterstock.

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2016 March Madness to Offer VR and More

Today, March Madness, also known as the 2016 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, officially starts. And like in previous years, the networks are offering new ways to view the games and get involved.

The first game airs on truTV at 6:30 p.m. EST, with the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles battling the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights.

NCAA March Madness Live, the app for the event, will be available for viewers on 12 different platforms, including Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple iOS, Microsoft Windows and Android.

Fox Sports is collaborating with NextVR to livestream seven games in virtual reality at Madison Square Garden in New York.

“Our job is to be at the forefront of virtual reality and ensure that if this is something that brings our sponsors, our distribution partners, and ultimately the sports fan, closer to the game, then we take advantage of it,” said David Nathanson, head of business operations at Fox Sports.

“NextVR has years of experience capturing NBA basketball in VR we are bringing to bear here,” added NextVR co-founder David Cole. “That includes best camera positions, inclusion of broadcast elements in the VR delivery, sound design, graphics, etc.”

The Fox-NextVR partnership is a five-year deal.

“Fans want to be a part of the action and virtual reality takes the fan experience to the next level,” said Eric Shanks, Fox Sports president.

Turner Sports and Snapchat have also inked a multi-year deal, which will keep NCAA fans engaged with Snapchat’s Live Story functionality.

“There is nothing more powerful on social than a passionate sports fan expressing their emotions during that pivotal moment of a game,” said Seth Ladetsky, senior vice president, Turner Sports Ad Sales. “While providing fans the tools to enhance their shared experiences, we are also creating an opportunity for advertisers to showcase their brand in an organic environment rich with engagement and interaction.”

The Live Stories will feature behind-the-scenes videos, photos and images, many of which will be submitted by actual fans.

In addition to truTV, games will also air on CBS, TBS and TNT. Live streams can be found at the NCAA, Bleacher Report, and CBS websites.

Author: Brian Cameron
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Netflix Achieves Success at the Indie Spirit Awards

On February 27, the 31st Film Independent Spirit Awards were held in Santa Monica Beach, Calif. And in a victory for OTT service Netflix, its first feature film, “Beasts of No Nation,” walked away with two major trophies.

Abraham Attah, a 15-year-old Ghanaian who made his acting debut in the African war drama, was recognized with the Best Male Lead award.

British actor Idris Elba won Best Supporting Male for his portrayal of “Commandant,” the leader of a group of soldiers.

In his acceptance speech, Elba gave credit to Netflix.

“Netflix…you are incredible,” said Elba. “Ted [Sarandos, Netflix CEO], well done man, you really did elevate this film to a place when no one else could have done that.”

It was definitely a triumphant night for the OTT company, as many had declared “Beasts of No Nation” as snubbed when the Oscar nominations were released.

Of note is Sarandos’ continued support for the movie, and in producing films via OTT.

“We are in a very interesting time in this business, and I hope what people see here is opportunities for movies to get made that audiences are going to love but are increasingly difficult to get made. Films of a certain budget, of a certain nature and certain topics. If it’s not a special-effects spectacular, there’s no place for it anymore in the global box office. Today, I think the broad audience we are reaching with ‘Beasts Of No Nation,’ that’s incredibly encouraging,” Sarandos told Deadline in October.

In a recent interview, Sarandos described his reasoning further.

“I think when people say they want their movies to be in a theater, what they mean is they want their movies to matter, they want their movies to be in the culture. One thing that Netflix movies will do differently than direct-to-video movies is they will be in the culture. These movies will matter,” Sarandos said.

At the end of February, Netflix released martial arts film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny” to mixed reviews.

With its “Beasts of No Nation” award accomplishments this year, perhaps an Oscar contender could emerge from its line of projects in 2017.

Author: Brian Cameron

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